Adjustable crop residue flow distributor for a vertical spreader of an agricultural combine

ABSTRACT

An adjustable flow distributor for a vertical spreader operable for discharging a flow of straw and other crop residue in a sideward direction for deposition over a field, the flow distributor including a metering edge and the adjustability allowing positioning the metering edge for tailoring or adjusting a pattern of discharged flow of crop residue, for instance, so as to be better and more evenly distributed over a swath of an agricultural field from which the crop was harvested, particularly a region of the swatch in proximity to the spreader and/or chopper.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to an agricultural combine, and moreparticularly, to an adjustable flow distributor for a vertical spreaderoperable for discharging a flow of straw and other crop residue in asideward direction for deposition over a field, the flow distributorincluding at least one metering edge which, in combination with at leastfore and aft adjustability of the distributor allowing adjusting ortailoring a pattern of crop residue flow therefrom, for instance, so asto be better and more evenly distribute the flow side to side over aswath of an agricultural field from which the crop was harvested.

BACKGROUND ART

Currently, combines typically include a crop residue spreader fordisposing of straw and other residue separated from the harvested croponto the field from which the crop was harvested. In addition, somecombines have a chaff spreader for spreading chaff residue separatedfrom the grain by the cleaning apparatus or system onto the crop field.In many instances it is desirable for the straw, chaff and other residueto be spread as evenly as possible over the width or swath of thatsection of the field over which the combine has just passed andharvested the crop from, to avoid problems resulting from unevenspreading, such as, but not limited to, difficulty in passage of falltillage tools through residue clumps or thick areas; uneven insulationof the field resulting in uneven field warming and thawing and cropemergence during the following planting season; and increased rodent andinsect habitat. In some instances, it is also desirable to have anability to adjust the spreading to compensate for crop type, varyingmoisture and weather conditions, such as wind and the like, and alsocombine header width.

Although various crop residue spreaders are known which can propelresidue a distance equal to about one half the width of a typicalcombine header, many suffer from shortcomings, including a tendency toprovide uneven crop residue distribution or coverage in the side to sidedirection over the swath. More particularly, for a vertical spreader,that is, a spreader utilizing one or more rotary impellers or otherelements rotatable about a generally horizontal axis, or an axisoriented or tilted at a small acute angle to horizontal, and configuredfor directing a flow or flows of crop residue sidewardly, it has beenfound that the resultant coverage has a tendency to be uneven in thesideward direction, for instance, typically thicker toward the outerregions or sides of the swath, and thinner or less uniform closer to thecenter of the swath.

Thus, what is sought is a crop residue flow distributor for thedischarge outlet of a vertical crop residue spreader, having acapability to adjustably distribute or guide portions of a dischargedflow of crop residue for achieving a desired pattern of the distributedresidue, which can include particularly, more even distribution side toside over a region of an agricultural field from which the crop washarvested, to achieve the advantages, and avoid the shortcomings andproblems of the prior art devices, discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is disclosed is an adjustable crop residue flow distributor for avertical crop residue spreader of an agricultural combine whichovercomes many of the problems discussed above.

According to a preferred aspect of the invention, the flow distributorincludes a flow guide having a first end portion, a second end portionopposite the first end portion, and opposite fore and aft edgesextending between the first and second end portions defining a cropresidue flow surface extending therebetween. The flow guide is supportedon a combine, preferably directly on the spreader, with at least thefirst end portion disposed beneath a generally downwardly facingdischarge opening of the spreader such that the crop residue flowsurface is located generally beneath the opening and extends sidewardlyoutwardly relatively thereto to the second end portion of the flowguide, for carrying and guiding a flow of crop residue discharged fromthe opening so as to flow sidewardly and outwardly from the spreader fordistribution over a field.

Importantly, the flow distributor includes an adjusting mechanismoperable for moving the flow guide at least fore and aft relative to thedischarge opening, such that at least one of the fore and aft edges isdisposed for changing a pattern of crop residue distribution over afield, including optionally as desired or required, for allowing adesired amount of the flow to bypass the flow guide so as to bedistributed on a region of a field directly below and in close proximityto the spreader, for instance, so as to provide more even and uniformcoverage side to side over a swath of a field, including the regionbeneath the spreader itself.

According to another preferred aspect of the invention, the adjustingmechanism is operable for adjustably moving the flow guide in the foreand aft directions to position at least one of the fore and aft edges ofthe flow guide for metering a portion of the flow so as to bedistributed on a region of a field in an altered manner.

According to still another preferred aspect of the invention, at leastone of the fore and aft edges of the flow guide used for metering theflow can have a special shape, such as a tapered shape, for distributingportions of a crop residue flow thereover at different sidewarddistances from the spreader, as a function of a fore and aft location ofthe edge.

According to still further preferred aspects of the invention, the cropresidue flow surface of the flow guide can have an upwardly andsidewardly outwardly facing concave curved shape, so as to be capable ofguiding a flow of crop material discharged downwardly from the dischargeopening sidewardly and outwardly therefrom. The flow guide can also besupported so as to be movable upwardly and downwardly relative to thedischarge opening, for effecting changes in the crop residuedistribution pattern, and the adjusting mechanism can include anactuator remotely controllable for moving the flow guide in the fore andaft directions, and the upward and downward movement can also beremotely controlled by an actuator, as desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified, fragmentary side view of the rear end of anagricultural combine including a pair of adjustable crop residue flowdistributors for a vertical spreader of the combine;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the combine, showing the spreader andadjustable flow distributors;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged front view of the adjustable flow distributors;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the flow distributors, illustratingmounting thereof on a rear wall of a housing of the spreader;

FIG. 5 is a right side view of the flow distributors mounted on the rearwall of the spreader;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary left side view of the spreader, illustrating theflow distributor thereof in one fore and aft position;

FIG. 7 is another fragmentary left side view of the spreader, showingthe flow distributor in another fore and aft position;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the flow distributors;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the flow distributors of the invention,showing an adjusting mechanism including a remotely controllableactuator, and remotely controllable actuators for controlling upward anddownward movement of flow guides of the distributors;

FIG. 10 is a simplified schematic rear view of a right rear end of thecombine and spreader, showing a representative pattern of crop residuedistribution by the flow distributor on that side of the spreader; and

FIG. 11 is a simplified schematic rear view of a right rear end of thespreader and flow distributor, in combination with a bottom viewthereof, diagrammatically illustrating characteristics of a pattern ofcrop residue flow distribution therefrom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, wherein preferred embodiments of thepresent invention are shown, in FIG. 1, a rear end 20 of aself-propelled agricultural combine 22 is shown, including a verticalcrop residue spreader 24 operable for spreading straw, stalks, and othercrop residue and trash that has been separated from the grain of thecrops by a threshing mechanism (not shown) of combine 22 locatedforwardly of rear end 20. The straw, stalks and the like are propelledrearwardly by rotating beaters or the like (also not shown) from thethreshing mechanism and downwardly through a rear cavity of combine 22to vertical spreader 24 for spreading and optionally chopping thereby,all in the well known manner.

Referring also to FIG. 2, spreader 24 includes a housing 26 of sheetmetal or other construction containing a pair of side by side rotaryimpellers 28 and 30 rotatable in opposite predetermined rotationaldirections, denoted by arrows A and B, about a pair of rotational axis32 and 34, respectively. Here, it should be understood that impellers 28and 30 are representative of a variety of rotary devices that can beutilized in a spreader of this type, such as a rotor having fixedblades, or carrying a plurality of knives, such as flail knives, forpropelling the crop residue outwardly from the housing. The spreader canadditionally optionally include a rank of fixed knives through which therotating knives pass for chopping crop residue.

Impellers 28 and 30 are rotated by suitable driving elements, such as byconventionally constructed and operable hydraulic motors powered bypressurized hydraulic fluid received from a pump (not shown) of combine22, an electric motor, belt, or the like, again in the well knownmanner. Rotational axes 32 and 34 extend at least generally in the foreand aft directions, that is, generally forwardly and rearwardly withrespect to combine 22, and are generally horizontal or oriented at asmall acute angle to horizontal, depending on an orientation or tilt ofspreader 24 on combine 22, which can be optionally variable andadjustable in the well known manner.

Housing 26 of spreader 24 includes spaced, opposed radial side walls,and a rear wall 36 extending therebetween across the width of spreader24, defining an internal cavity containing impellers 28 and 30. Housing26 defines a forwardly and upwardly facing inlet opening for receivingthe residue flow from the threshing system, and a downwardly facingdischarge opening 38, through which the residue is propelled downwardlyand in opposite sideward directions by impellers 28 and 30,respectively.

Residue flow within housing 26 is propelled by rotating impellers 28 and30 in the predetermined rotational directions A and B alongcircumferential flow paths, at speeds equal to or increased relative tothe inlet speed of the residue flow such that the residue does not buildup at the inlet and is expelled from housing 18 through dischargeopening 38 at a corresponding speed. In the instance wherein spreader 24is solely used for spreading, the speed imparted to the residue byimpellers 28 and 30 will be sufficient for airborne travel of theresidue a substantial sideward distance from combine 22 for depositionon regions of the agricultural field over which combine 22 has justtraveled and from which the crops have been harvested.

As noted above, it is desired in many instances to distribute the cropresidue discharged by impellers 28 and 30 substantially evenly over thewidth of a swath of the field from which the crop has just beenharvested by combine 22, which width is typically defined by the overallwidth of a harvesting head of combine 22, which width can be as much as30 to 40 feet in the instance of some heads currently in use. Thus, itis desirable that rotary impellers 28 and 30 have the capability toexpel or propel crop residue a distance of up to about 20 feet or sotherefrom, corresponding to one-half the width of the header used oncombine 22, and possibly farther as combine headers of greater width areintroduced. Impellers 28 and 30 can be suitably configured and rotatedat a sufficient velocity for propelling crop residue such as, but notlimited to, chopped straw, stems and branches, cobs and the like, therequired distance of up to one-half the width of a header currentlybeing used, by a conventional hydraulic motor or any other suitabledriver as mentioned above. The problem to be currently overcome,however, is distributing the crop residue substantially evenly over thisdistance of up to about 20 feet or so particularly including in theregion of a swath directly beneath spreader 24.

Referring also to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, to overcome the problem setforth above, spreader 24 includes a pair of adjustable crop residue flowdistributors 40, constructed and operable according to the teachings ofthe present invention. Crop residue flow distributors 40 are mirrorimages of one another, and thus can be described and discussedsingularly when appropriate, and are positioned for use in cooperationwith respective impellers 28 and 30 (FIG. 2) of spreader 24 forreceiving and carrying flows of crop residue discharged throughdischarge opening 38, in opposite sideward directions outwardly awayfrom spreader 24, for distribution in a desired pattern on sides of ajust harvested swath of a field over which combine 22 is moving. Here,it should be understood that by the term “sideward” what is meant is adirection transverse the fore and aft directions, the term “sidewardlyoutwardly” thus meaning sidewardly away from a center line 42 (FIG. 2)of spreader 24, the term “sidewardly inwardly” meaning closer to centerline 42.

Each of flow distributors 40 preferably includes a flow guide ofsuitable, rigid construction, such as of sheet metal, or plastics,having a first end portion 46 supported adjacent to discharge opening 38in the vicinity of center line 42 in a position so as to receive atleast a portion of the crop residue flow discharged through opening 38.Flow guide 44 includes a second end portion 48 opposite first endportion 46, and a fore edge 50 and an opposite aft edge 52 extendingbetween first and second end portions 46 and 48 defining a crop residueflow surface 54 extending between end portions 46 and 48 for guiding andcarrying the received crop residue flow sidewardly outwardly away fromspreader 24 and distributing the crop residue, illustrated by strings ofoppositely directed arrows C and downwardly directed arrows D in FIG. 2,for distribution in a pattern on a field, represented by dotted line 56in FIG. 2, having desired characteristics, such as uniformity andevenness of crop residue distribution.

Flow guide 44 is additionally preferably elongate in the sidewarddirection, and crop residue flow surface 54 preferably has an upwardlydirected concave shape. Additionally, at least aft edge 52 includes atapered portion 58 which extends diagonally forwardly and sidewardlyoutward toward second end portion 48, such that a portion of cropresidue flow surface 54 adjacent to second end portion 48 of the flowguide, is reduced in fore and aft extent, compared to a portion ofsurface 54 adjacent to first end portion 46.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, each of flow guides 44 ispreferably supported on combine 22, and more preferably on spreader 24,by adjustable support structure 60. Support structure 60 preferablyincludes a rear plate 62 mountable in a suitable manner, such as usingbolts or other fasteners, to a central region of rear wall 36 ofspreader 24, so as to be at least generally aligned with center line 42of spreader 24. Support structure 60 includes a center flow divider 64connected to plate 62 and extending forwardly therefrom, so as to bedisposed between impellers 28 and 30 for dividing crop residue flowtherebetween, and for supporting flow guides 44 for fore and aftmovement relative to structure 60, as denoted by arrows E in FIGS. 4, 5,6, 7 and 8, and also upward and downward pivotal movement relativethereto, as denoted by arrows F in FIG. 3. The first end portion 46 ofeach of flow guides 44 is connected to support structure 60 by a foreand aft extending pivot pin 66 retained in position by a cotter pin 68.Additionally, pins 66 support a center bracket 70 which extendsdownwardly from divider 64 and is movable in the fore and aft directionswith flow guides 44. Each of flow guides 44 includes a bracket 72 on anunderside thereof about midway between end portions 46 and 48. A pair ofturn buckles 74 are pivotally connected between center bracket 70 andbrackets 72 on flow guides 44, respectively, and are individuallyadjustable for varying the position of the respective flow guides 44upwardly and downwardly, as desired or required for achieving aparticular crop residue distribution pattern, particularly the overallwidth thereof. Center bracket 70 additionally includes a threaded nut 76fixed on a rear end thereof, which threadedly receives an elongatethreaded member 78 supported for rotation on support structure 60, forjointly moving flow guides 44 in the fore and aft directions, denoted byarrows E, by the rotation of threaded member 78, in the manner of a jackscrew. That is, by rotation of threaded member 78 in a first rotationaldirection, simultaneous movement of both flow guides 44 in a first ofthe fore and aft directions is achieved, and by rotation of member 78 inan opposite rotational direction, simultaneous movement of flow guides44 in an opposite one of the fore and aft directions is achieved. Tworepresentative fore and aft positions of a flow guide 44 are illustratedin FIGS. 6 and 7, it being contemplated that the flow guides 44 arepositionable at any of a range of positions between those shown in FIGS.6 and 7.

An important advantage of the ability to adjustably position flow guides44 through a range of fore and aft positions, is the ability to vary thefore and aft position of aft edge 52 in relation to flow from spreader24, and, more particularly, a position of tapered portion 58 of aft edgein the flow, which functions as a metering edge for adjusting a patternof distribution of the flow over a field. The adjustability of taperedportion 58 has been found to be advantageous, because, the more aft thelocation thereof, the greater is the amount of crop residue which willbe distributed a farther distance from the spreader.

Additionally, aft edge 52 can serve as a divider of flow discharged fromspreader 24. That is, edge 52 can be positioned such that a portion ofthe flow will impinge surface 54 of flow guide 44 in the vicinity offirst end portion 46 thereof, and be guided and carried therebysidewardly outwardly over second end portion 48 for subsequentdistribution over regions of a field sidewardly beyond the flow guide,and portions can pass through a space 80 between aft edge 52 and rearwall 36 so as to effectively bypass the flow guide and flow moredownwardly for distribution over regions of a field beneath and closerto spreader 24. As a result, aft edge 52 and the fore and aft positionof flow guide 44 serves as an adjustable metering apparatus fordistribution of crop residue over a field.

More particularly in the latter regard, in FIG. 6, a fore and aft extentG of a portion of space 80 between first end portion 46 of flow guide 44and rear wall 36 of spreader 24 is shown, and a fore and aft extent H ofspace 80 between second end portion 48 and rear wall 36, which isgreater than extent G, is shown. In FIG. 7, a fore and aft extent G1 isshown between first end portion 46 and rear wall 36, and a fore and aftextent H1 between second end portion 48 and wall 36 is shown, extents G1and H1 being greater than extents G and H, reflecting the different foreand aft positions of flow guide 44 in the two figures. Thus, it shouldbe apparent that by enlarging or decreasing space 80, differentdistribution characteristics can be achieved, particularly in the areabeneath spreader 24.

Referring also to FIG. 9, a remotely controllable actuator 82 is shownin connection with threaded member 78, for effecting rotation thereoffor achieving a desired or required fore and aft position of flow guides44 of flow distributors. Remotely controllable actuators 84 are shown inconnection between center bracket 70 and brackets 72 on flow guides 44,in place of turn buckles 74, for effecting upward and downward movementsof the flow guides, either independently, or jointly. Actuators 82 and84 can be any suitable commercially available devices, such as, but notlimited to, electric or other motors, cylinders, solenoids, or the like,and can be controlled from a suitable location such as an operator cabof the combine.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate crop residue distribution patterns 56 whichare possible using a flow distributor 40 in cooperation with a verticalspreader such as spreader 24 on combine 22. Again, as discussed inreference to FIG. 2, a substantially even or uniform crop residuedistribution pattern, denoted by line 56, can be achieved as betweenflows C and D, by making required adjustments of the position ofdistributor 40 in the above discussed manner. The dots 86, 88, 90, 92,94, 96, 98, 100, 102, 104, 106 and 108 in FIG. 11 illustrate approximatelocations along pattern 56 where crop residue flowing along thecorrespondingly numbered lines will be distributed on a field.

It will be understood that changes in the details, materials, steps, andarrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated toexplain the nature of the invention will occur to and may be made bythose skilled in the art upon a reading of this disclosure within theprinciples and scope of the invention. The foregoing descriptionillustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention; however,concepts, as based upon the description, may be employed in otherembodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the inventionbroadly as well as in the specific form shown.

1. A fore and aft adjustable flow distributor for a vertical cropresidue spreader of an agricultural combine, comprising: a flow guidehaving a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first endportion, and opposite fore and aft edges extending between the first andsecond end portions defining a crop residue flow surface extendingtherebetween, wherein the flow surface has an upwardly directed concaveshape; and an adjustable support structure configured for supporting theflow guide with at least the first end portion thereof disposed beneatha downwardly facing portion of a discharge opening of the spreader andthe second end portion extending sidewardly therefrom such that at leasta portion of a flow of crop residue discharged through the opening willstrike and flow sidewardly along the flow surface and sidewardlytherefrom so as to be distributed thereby over a region of a fieldlocated sidewardly of the spreader, the support structure including anadjusting mechanism operable for moving the flow guide fore and aft inrelation to the discharge opening for adjustably positioning at leastone of the fore edge and the aft edge beneath the discharge opening, theat least one of the fore edge and the aft edge being shaped so as toalter a pattern of crop residue distribution over a field as a functionof a fore and aft position of the edge beneath the discharge opening. 2.The flow distributor of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the atleast one of the fore edge and the aft edge has a fore and all extendingtapered shape.
 3. The flow distributor of claim 2, wherein the at leastone of the fore edge and the aft edge comprises the aft edge and thetapered shape extends sidewardly outwardly and forwardly toward thesecond cud portion of the flow guide.
 4. The flow distributor of claim1, wherein the crop residue flow surface has an upwardly and sidewardlyoutwardly facing concave curved shape so as to be capable of guiding aflow of crop residue discharged downwardly from the discharge openingupwardly and sidewardly outwardly therefrom.
 5. The flow distributor ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the fore and aft edges of the flowguide is a metering edge which tapers toward the other of the edges inthe sideward outward direction.
 6. The flow distributor of claim 1,wherein the flow guide is supported such that at least the second endportion thereof is movable upwardly anti downwardly relative to thedischarge opening.
 7. The flow distributor of claim 1, wherein theadjusting mechanism includes an actuator remotely controllable formoving the flow guide in the fore and aft directions.